5 Steps to Improve your LinkedIn Profile in Minutes

August 3, 2016

The biggest challenge most of us face in today’s world is finding time. But making the time to ensure your professional story reflects your achievements and future goals is key to not missing your next opportunity.

With our mobile app, we have made it easier than ever to update your profile on the go. So whether you’re on the bus or the train, you can be more productive, and take control of your career. By tapping on the “Me” tab you can add your recent skills, update your experience and even snap a picture and upload it while on the go. These are the some of the first things recruiters look for in your profile, and critical to connecting you to people, opportunities, and skills that can help build your career.

1. Upload a photo

Your photo is your virtual handshake, so upload a photo that aligns with your role as a professional, but that makes you approachable. Members who include a profile photo receive 21x more profile views and up to 36x more messages. Upload directly from your phone, but make sure it’s good quality and includes you only, not your pet or significant other. Being so strongly identified with your dog or your husband might not be appropriate unless you're a vet or a marriage counselor and that's part of your professional image.

2. List your current position

Make sure it’s up to date and includes your title, company name, and time period. Members with “up to date” positions are discovered up to 18x more in searches by members and recruiters. If you're currently in transition, rather than note unemployed you can add a title similar to what you want to pursue. For example, “marketing executive open to field marketing positions.” Also, show the year in the date field, so for example “2016 to present.” If you’re just entering the workforce then it is critical to include your education, which is not only important to potential employers but also it can also help reconnect you to alumni and to past school friends.

3. Maintain a list of relevant skills

Maintaining a relevant list of skills on your profile will help others understand your strengths and match you with the right opportunities. Depending on what stage you are in your career you should try to add at least 5 skills. Members with 5 or more skills listed are contacted (messaged) up to 33x more by recruiters and other LinkedIn members, and receive up to 17x more profile views. One tip, check your skills are listed in order of the strengths you want to be known for, and LinkedIn will do the rest by targeting endorsers for those top skills you’ve prioritized, and the more endorsements you have for your skills the higher you rank in search results.

4. Add your location

More than 30% of recruiters will use advanced search based on location, so the more details you have the more likely you will be found and connected to your next opportunity. Also, former colleagues may want to reconnect if they have recently relocated or are travelling for work.

5. Summarize your experience and goals

While adding a summary can be daunting it’s your opportunity to tell a story of who you are, your experience, the type of things you are interested in, and goals you would like to achieve. A summary of 40 words or more makes it more likely to show up in search, and consider calling out your specialities for keyword search. And, don’t be shy to add some personality -- nearly 40% of recruiters are looking for this.

Your profile is your professional profile of record and making small changes now to reflect the work you do will increase your visibility in your industry, and will give recruiters, potential clients or connections more insight into who you are and what you do. So let your profile go to work for you!